Horatio keyes



llwrrnn Smarts artnr @tirreno IIORATIO KEYES, OF TERRE I-IAUTE, INDIANA.

MINE TRAP-I-DOCR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,368, dated June 15, 189'?.

Application filed December 22,1896. Serial No. 616,691. (No model.)

T all whom t may conceive:

Be it known that I, HORATIO KEYES, a citizen of the United States, residing at 'lerre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Mine Trap-Doors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the `figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in mine trap-doors, and to one of that class which is adapted to cut oft' or control air-currents in the entries of mines.

The object is to provide such a door that will be opened on the approach of a car through the entry from either direction and will automatically close after the car or ycars have passed through the door.

The principal feature of my present invention is the method of hanging the door and the several parts in connection therewith.

In the drawings, where a simple form of my improved door is shown and where like figures of reference refer to the sanne or similar parts, Figure l is a perspective view of a door and its operating mechanism, the door being closed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view, the door being opened; and Fig. 4 is a rear view of the door and its connections, the door being closed.

In detail l is a framework supported across a track 2 in the entry of a mine, the framework consistingof the inclined supports 3 on each side of the track, each pair of these being connected together at the upper end and then connected across the track by the crosspiece 4.

5 is the door, which may work between the supports 3, as shown, the only point being to have the door iit snugly in or against the framework when it is closed, the bottom of the door fitting across the track and the top bearing against the crosspiece 4 above, the door preferably projecting on an angle toward the air-current in the entry. rlhe door is carried by swinging arms 6 on each side, and it will be noticed that these are secured to the door just above its center and are also attached at its top, and the pivotal or swinging points of the arms are about on a line with the center of the door and at a proper distance from the top to allow the door to bear against the cross-piece 7 above when said door is fully opened.

7 are counterbalancing-weights on the outer ends of the arms 6 and are nearly heavy enough to balance the door.

The tripping or operating mechanism which I have shown consists of a continuous moving or pressure bar S, which lies parallel with and close to one of the rails and extends to any desired distance on each side of the door, the moving bar having operating-arms 9 attached to it, and these are suitably mounted on boxes l0, the arms extending farther.I and are provided with weights Il. At the side of the door and attached to the moving bar is an operating-arm l2, which is connected or pivoted to a link 13, this in turn being pivoted to the arm l-'t of the operatinglever l5, which is pivoted in a boxing 16 on the inside of one of the supports 3 and at a point a little below the pivoted or swinging point oit the door. The upper end of the operating-lever 15 is connected or pivoted to the back oi' the door a little above its center by a link 17. It will thus be apparent that on the approach of a car from either direction as the wheels pass onto and depress the moving bar the door will be raised or opened through the connections between such moving bar and the door, and when the last car-wheel passes off of the moving bar, after the car or cars are entirely through the door, the said door will close. It will be thus noticed that when the door is closed the pressure of the air-current in front of the door will be greater below the point where the arms 6 are secured toit, and hence the door will be held iirmly closed, but at the same time little power will be required to raise or open it, for as the door starts to rise the air-current will press on a constantly-decreasing surface presented toit. In closing, also, it will be apparent that the air-pressure gradually increases against the face of the door until it is completely closed. It will also be noted that the weights 7 are nearly sufiicient to balance the weight of the door and that the weights 1l are more than sufi- IOO and the door connections.

cient to balance the weight of the moving` bar IIence in both the opening and closing of the door the operation will be light and easy, and in both operations the air-current at the front of the door assists.

Any other form of moving bar than the one shown may be used with the same result, or the door may be operated bya trip-lever combination, and I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction of the door and its operating mechanism, as many modifications maybe made in both without departing from the spirit of lny invention.

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of Ithe United States, is-

l. In a mine trap-door, a framework supported across the track, a door carried by suitable arms which are pivoted or swung from such framework, the arms carrying said door being attached to the same above its center, and their pivotal or swinging points being below the center of the door, and means for automatically opening and closing such door, substantially as set forth.

2. In a mine trap-door, a framework supported across the track, a door carried on suitable arms attached to the same above its center and pivoted or swung from such framework at points below the center of the door, and provided with counterweights, the door when closed being inclined toward the airdraft in the entry, and the arms being of proper length to swing or carry the door against the framework when said door is fully opened, and means for automatically opening and closing such door, substantially as set forth.

3. In a mine trap-door, a framework supported across the track, a door carried by suitable arms which are pivoted or swung from the framework, the arms carrying said door bein attached to the same above its center, and their pivotal or swinging point on the framework being below the center of the door, and a crank-and-lever device attached to the door above its center and connected with a moving bar or similar device for opening and closing the door, when such moving bar is operated, substantially as set forth.

it. In a mine trap-door, a framework supported across the track, a door carried by suitable arms which are pivoted or swung from the framework, the arms carrying said door being attached to the same above its center and their pivotal or swinging point on the framework being below the center of the door, a moving bar lying alongside of the track and parallel thereto, said bar being operated on by passing cars to open and close the door, an arm connected to such bar, and an open ating-lever pivoted to the framework, such lever being connected to the said arm of the moving bar by a link and also to the door above the center by another link, all substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HORATIO KEYES.

IVitnesses:

J. H. KEYES, B. V. MARSHALL. 

